Student Teen Employment Preparation (STEP)
Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Student Teen Employment Preparation (STEP) Program is a job readiness program designed to provide youth with education, job skills and career development training.

Applications are available for summer 2013 placements. Work focuses on addressing community needs; team projects may include forest enhancement, trail construction, habitat restoration, organizing community building events and mixed media projects.

The program combines on the job work experience, environmental education, safety education and career development training. Participants will develop good work habits and strong team building and communication skills, and learn a sound cultural awareness of the environment and their communities.

Program dates are July 8 - August 1; work locations are in various parks and facilities throughout Seattle. Participants who complete the program receive a stipend of $599.

STEP is open to teens ages 14 – 19; each applicant must be able to provide documentation of his or her eligibility to work in the United States.

Summer of Service (SOS)
Summer of Service (SOS) is a program for youth entering the 7th, 8th and 9th grades NEXT school year. It helps youth identify needs in their community and make a difference while gaining leadership and work skills. Upon completion of the program, youth will receive a $150 stipend.

Lifeguard Training Team
The Lifeguard Training Team is a free program designed to train and certify Seattle’s youth in lifesaving skills. The eight week program for youth ages 15-17 years old is designed to train participants to be lifeguards and build other job skills. Seattle Parks and Recreation provides training, books, uniforms, and basic materials at no charge. Participants get the opportunity to test for certification at the end of the program.

The Lifeguard Training Team is a tremendous opportunity for youth to learn and grow, to build lasting friendships, to acquire skills they will use for the rest of their lives, and possibly to launch a career in aquatics.

Youth don’t have to be Olympic athletes or world class swimmers to join. We just ask that they try their hardest, participate every day, and be part of the team. Instructors provide a safe, well supervised and encouraging environment. Participant safety is the number one priority.

The Lifeguard Training Team is a program that Seattle Parks and Recreation created to help promote diversity among our staff. It is Parks’ policy to have a diverse work force representative of our community. Diversity means not only equal employment opportunities for minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, but also for people from all cultures.